Wiccaning
{{Short description|Neopagan ritual analogous to infant baptism}}
{{wiktionary|wiccaning|paganing}}
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A Wiccaning or Paganing is a Neopagan ritual analogous to the christening or baptism of an infant.Garber, Kathleen (1997) "[http://webspace.webring.com/people/nk/k_garber/wicpag.html Wiccaning/Paganing]" Specific groups may have alternate names for this rite.
In accordance with the importance put on free will in Neopagan traditions, infants are not necessarily expected to choose a Pagan path for themselves when they grow older. The ceremony, like its Christian equivalent, is focused on the parents' beliefs and the family's communal commitment to look after the child.{{Cite web |url=http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/paganbabies/ht/Baby_Naming.htm |title=About.com Naming ceremony |access-date=2012-01-07 |archive-date=2015-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906121914/http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/paganbabies/ht/Baby_Naming.htm |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecauldron.net/wiccaning1.php|title=A Wiccaning/Naming Ceremony I (The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum)|website=www.ecauldron.net}}
Rites
A Wiccaning can take many forms, drawn from older pagan traditions, folklore, and the more modern beliefs of the individuals involved.{{Cite web |title=Hold a Wiccaning Ceremony for Your Baby |url=https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-a-wiccaning-2562532 |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Learn Religions |language=en}} In most the central event is the presentation of the infant to a God and Goddess usually through being held up by its Mother, a High Priest, and/or High Priestess in sight of the sky.
Other aspects of the ritual may include sprinkling silvered water on the infant's forehead as part of a saining (Scottish rite for blessing and consecrating)Ellison, Skip "[http://www.adf.org/rituals/general/naming-and-saining.html Naming and Saining the Baby]" or passing the child over a fire.
References
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